Game species
European game species: appearance, habitat, behaviour, signs and trophy evaluation.
Game bird
Common pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
A gamebird introduced from Asia and one of the most important feathered quarry species in small-game hunting.
Small game
European hare
Lepus europaeus
The traditional quarry of small-game hunting and a typical inhabitant of open farmland.
Big game
Fallow deer
Dama dama
A medium-sized, spotted deer, easily recognised by the buck's palmate antlers.
Predator
Golden jackal
Canis aureus
A canid larger than a fox but much smaller than a wolf, spreading rapidly across Central Europe since the 1990s.
Waterfowl
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
The most common wild duck in Hungary and the main quarry of waterfowl hunting; the wild ancestor of the domestic duck.
Big game
Mouflon
Ovis gmelini musimon
A wild sheep introduced to Central Europe from Corsica and Sardinia; the ram's curled horns are a distinctive trophy.
Big game
Red deer
Cervus elaphus
One of Europe's largest deer; the stag's antlers are among the most prized hunting trophies.
Predator
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
The most widespread predator in Hungary; controlling its numbers matters for protecting small game and ground-nesting birds.
Big game
Roe deer
Capreolus capreolus
The most common deer in Hungary; a small, adaptable species living in forests and farmland alike.
Big game
Wild boar
Sus scrofa
A strong, adaptable omnivore; the boar's tusks are a valued trophy, and population control is a key game management task.